Frequently Asked Questions

#1. What requirements must I meet in order to be approved for student teaching?

This question can be answered with the document "Preparing for Student Teaching".

#2. What is a round-up meeting? When are the departmental meetings?

Round-up meetings are conducted by the Office of Clinical Field Experiences (OSFE) for all teacher education majors. The purpose of the round-up meeting is to distribute your degree audit and to inform all eligible teacher education majors of the up-coming events and assist them in planning to complete their student teaching experience. These meetings are scheduled the year prior to your assigned student teaching semester.

Departmental meetings or visit(s) with your advisor are according to the dates and times identified by the departments. A list of times will be distributed at "Round-Up". The department of your major(s) MUST approve and sign your "Application for Student Teaching". Processing of your application begins when we receive "Departmental Approval" of your application. Find your date, etc. and record this in your appointment calendar.

#3. How do I apply for student teaching?

All teacher education majors must complete and submit an Application for Student Teaching form which is in Round Up materials. The completion of this form is done at the appropriate departmental or division meeting. Please note the date and time scheduled for you. If you are a double major or seeking more than one endorsement, you should report to the meeting scheduled for each of your majors to complete your application. Advisors will assist in completing the application form.

Students, please take note: The submission of a Declaration of Curriculum and the Admission to Teacher Education are NOT the same as the Application for Student Teaching. Do not confuse these different, necessary procedures and respective forms.

IMPORTANT: Your application form (2 copies) must be turned in at the time of your respectively scheduled departmental or division meeting. Failure to turn in your application form will result in a late application. Because of the number of students applying for student teaching, and the number of available teaching slots, students making application after the department meetings cannot be guaranteed a student teaching placement during their assigned semester.

Applications are kept on file for one academic year. After that time, a new application must be completed for future consideration. Students who decide to change semesters within the same academic year do not need to file a new application; however, there is no guarantee of your placement. Please inform the Office of Student Field Experiences of any changes in your plans. Failure to notify OSFE may result in a canceled student teaching assignment.

#4. How many copies of the Personal and Professional Data Form and Resume do I need to submit?

The above papers are often referred to as "background" papers. You must supply the Office of Student Field Experiences eight (8) copies of these background papers. These papers should be word processed accurately. They introduce you to the cooperating teachers and administrators of the buildings to whom you are assigned for student teaching. You want to create a good impression. These papers should be filled out with care. They should be neat and demonstrate the use of correct grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence construction.

Follow the guidelines and instructions as explained on the salmon and blue pages of this booklet for completion of the Personal and Professional Information form. Turn in a total of eight (8) copies of both the Personal and Professional Information and your resume. Please staple your resume behind each set of papers.

Background papers can be turned in at any time, but must be received by the date and time identified on the "Checklist of Dates to Remember". If background papers are NOT received by the specified date, the Office of Student Field Experiences will assume that you do not plan to student teach during your scheduled semester.

NOTE: Turn in all 8 copies of your background papers to The Department of Teaching, OSFE office, in the folder provided.

Placement and Career Services are offering workshops and critiqueing sessions to assist you in the preparation of a professional looking resume. See the Career Center's schedule at: http://www.uni.edu/careerservices/

Background papers and resumes that are not professional looking will be returned. This will delay the process of assigning you a placement region.

#5. May I choose where I do my student teaching?

The state of Iowa is the University of Northern Iowa's campus when it comes to placement for your student teaching experience. In Iowa we have regional centers staffed by University faculty and clinical supervisors. Specific centers are listed on the "Placement Request" form available through MyUniverse. You will be assigned to one of the centers or a school district in the region served by the central location. Assignments are made with a number of variables considered including your major, identification of a cooperating teacher and faculty load.

Students desiring an out-of-state or international placement may volunteer for such a placement. Students desiring an out-of-state or international placement should indicate their desires on the Placement Request. Placements in out-of-state and international locations will be limited to the number of candidates a receiving school district is able and willing to place.

Complete the Placement Request to communicate any information you want the office and placement committee to consider as assignments are made. If you do not submit a Placement Request, you will be placed in an Iowa Region. Refer to the "Checklist of Dates to Remember" for due dates.

All candidates will be notified of assigned Regional Center by their UNI email account.

#6. Must I attend the interview session?

The answer to this is a resounding YES! Interviews are a significant part of the assignment process. It is during the interview time that the student teaching faculty coordinator and clinical supervisor get to know you. This helps them to make student teaching assignments. Dates and times are identified on the "Checklist of Dates to Remember".

In an effort to utilize your time most efficiently and eliminate long waits, we ask you to schedule your interview. See "Checklist of Dates to Remember". It is not necessary to skip classes to fulfill the interview requirement. If there is a change of date or time for the interviews, for any reason, it will be posted in the university buildings and appear in the Northern Iowan.

The Office of Student Field Experiences will assume that students who fail to appear for an interview do not plan to student teach. Students who plan to student teach but are unable to attend the interview session must notify the Office of Student Field Experiences at 319-273-2806 or 319-273-2202 prior to the scheduled interview date. All reminders for upcoming interviews will be handled through posters and the Northern Iowan.

#7. What are the campus orientation meetings and when are they held?

Campus orientation meetings are held for student teachers who receive a tentative assignment. The orientation session will inform student teachers of their specific assignments, the name of their cooperating teacher(s) and their assigned school system and/or building. The specifics of the orientation meeting are provided to the applicant at the time you are interviewed.

At the orientation meeting, your university faculty coordinator will discuss your teaching center visit. Do NOT contact your cooperating teacher until you are instructed to do so by your university faculty coordinator.

#8. How many credit hours will I take during my semester of student teaching? How will I be evaluated?

Credit hours usually do not vary. Students normally earn 12 hours of credit in student teaching. These credits may be applied toward the 120 hour minimum required for graduation. On occasion, a student who wants to be endorsed in "multiple" areas may have to do additional hours of student teaching above the normal 12 hours of credit.

The credit hours attained for student teaching is the same, whether you are teaching at a single level or multiple levels. You should note that special area majors (art, health, TESOL, music, physical education and speech pathology) complete a two-level assignment (i.e., senior high/elementary or elementary/junior high).

Because the student teaching semester is a full load, no other course work is permitted. The time required to meet the demands of teaching are all encompassing. Another course would simply interfere with that time and jeopardize the successful completion of your student teaching.

You should note that more than one endorsement or approval may be the goal of some students. Students can qualify for additional endorsements (authorization to perform a specific type of service at particular grade level(s) and additional approval areas (authorization to teach a specific subject) if they have completed the approved UNI program in an area of specialization. For example, the coaching minor requires a supervised field experience in coaching. Thus, coaching must be an integral part of the student teaching assignment. You must inform your university faculty coordinator during your interview if you wish to complete an assignment for a specific endorsement. Normally no extra credit is required for such endorsement assignments.

Evaluation is an integral part of the student teaching process. It is essential that student teachers recognize that evaluation is mutually planned and conducted with the cooperating teacher and the university faculty coordinator or clinical supervisor. It should be noted that the UNI faculty coordinator does have the final responsibility for all evaluation matters related to student teachers.

Student teaching is graded on a "credit/no credit" system. The written final evaluation is probably more important than any letter grade because this evaluation is usually used in securing a teaching position once you graduate.

#9. What if I develop a reason for needing to drop student teaching? or cancel my intentions for a semester? or move? or what if I change my name?

If you need to drop your student teaching assignment for any reason, you should contact the Office of Student Field Experiences immediately upon knowledge of such a need. The Office of Studentl Field Experiences will work with you to provide assistance when needed. It is possible that should you drop or cancel your student teaching experience for any duration of time you may need to go through the application stages again. Allow the office personnel to help you with such decisions.

At the first meeting of your student teaching semester, your Student Teaching Coordinator will ask for your student teaching address and telephone numbers. Should you find it necessary for either the Office of Student Field Experience or the Student Teaching Coordinator to know this information in advance, notify them in writing. Such information is essential for communication purposes.

If you change your name, for any reason, please inform the Office of Student Field Experience.

#10. If I live in another town, how do I find a place to live and how do I get there?

Housing in off-campus centers may be a concern to some applicants. The off-campus university coordinator and/or clinical supervisor may have information on housing possibilities and may have knowledge of available housing. Check with them at the orientation sessions. However, it is the responsibility of the student to secure his or her own housing. Likewise, it is the student's responsibility for all moving and transportation during the student teaching experience.

Temporary student housing may be a problem for some student teachers who are assigned locally, particularly if they plan to live in a residence hall. The occupancy schedule of the residence halls does not always correspond to the student teaching periods nor do they always correspond with vacation breaks. The student teacher follows his or her school's vacation schedule, not the University's. Therefore, those student teachers who live in a residence hall may need to arrange for temporary housing during vacation periods or at the beginning of the year. The UNI Department of Residence should be contacted for specific dates when the halls will be closed.

#11. Am I allowed any absences during my student teaching experience?

Absences from student teaching, except for illness, are generally not permitted. Legitimate reasons must be approved by the cooperating teacher and the university coordinator. Advance plans must be made and approved for expected absences. You are expected to follow your assigned school's calendar, since you are considered to be one of the faculty.

You are allowed six absences, according to the Student Teaching Handbook, for special circumtances. These days should be used only if absolutely necessary. Should absences be greater than the 6 days, it may be necessary to drop you from that particular student teaching semester. Your university coordinator will monitor and advise you should such a need arise.

You are permitted to interview for a teaching position during the student teaching experience so long as such an absence is approved by the cooperating teacher and your university coordinator, you have not had excessive absences prior to this request, or the requested absence does not interfere with your teaching responsibilities.

#12. When does student teaching begin for me?

Student teaching periods will differ from the University of Northern Iowa calendar. Student teachers follow the schedule of the student teaching centers and their respective schools, so there are some differences within centers depending on your school placement. You follow the schedule of the school to which you are assigned.

Some centers will begin a week early in order to accommodate the Human Relations class. Check with your coordinator. Student teachers will have the same vacation periods as their assigned school system and are expected to observe that district's calendar. Public school vacations, in most cases, will not be the same as the University.

#13. What do I do if I have a GSL or Perkins loan?

If you have a GSL or Perkins loan or some other loan, it is imperative that you go to the controller's office to sign the required documents before going out to student teach. It is your responsibility to change your address with the Registrar's Office.

If you have any questions concerning student teaching, call the Office of Student Field Experiences (319-273-2806 or 319-273-2202) or e-mail
Tami Powers , Office of Student Field Experiences Secretary.